Shared insights for heat health risk adaptation in metropolitan areas of developing countries

• Published in: iScience 2024-05, Vol.27 (5), p.109728-109728, Article 109728
• Main Authors: Yu, Wenbo, Yang, Jun, Sun, Dongqi, Xue, Bing, Sun, Wei, Ren, Jiayi, Yu, Huisheng, Xiao, Xiangming, Xia, Jianhong(Cecilia), Li, Xueming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Public health; Sociology
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109728

Global warming has led to a surge in heat health risks (HHRs), the impacts of which are particularly pronounced in metropolitan areas of developing countries. In the current study, six metropolitan areas - Beijing, China; Cairo, Egypt; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mumbai, India; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tehran, Iran - were selected as the study area to further differentiate the built-up landscapes by utilizing the concept of local climate zones. Moreover, we assessed the similarities and differences in HHR associated with the landscape. Results revealed a 30.67% higher HHR in compact built-up landscapes than in the open built-up type. Urban green spaces played an effective but differentiated role in mitigating HHR. That is, low vegetation in urbanized areas and trees in suburban areas significantly mitigated HHR. Collectively, our findings emphasize the role of effective planning and management in addressing HHR and provide empirical support for implementing HHR mitigation and adaptation strategies. [Display omitted] •The impact of the local landscape composition on heat health risk (HHR) is explored•Summarizes common and differential characteristic of HHR in different regions•Denser buildings are the most important cause of increased HHR•Urban green spaces play an effective but differentiated role in mitigating HHR Public health; Sociology